System and method for enhanced message notification

Abstract

Enhanced message notification is provided by an enhanced notification function element and a subscriber preference profile database. The enhanced notification function element queries the subscriber preference profile database to obtain subscriber communication terminal capabilities information, which it uses to select a message notification technology. The enhanced notification function element may then format an enhanced notification that is delivered to a communication terminal through a delivery system architecture appropriate for the selected message notification technology. The enhanced notification may contain: a message type indicator; an identifier of the party leaving the message; a date and time that the message was deposited; multimedia objects; and other enhanced information. The enhanced notification function element may also query a terminal roaming status database in order to determine if the enhanced message should be sent when the terminal is roaming. The enhanced notification function element may also provide content adaptation for the enhanced notification.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10 / 938,350, filed Sep. 10, 2004, and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,248,857, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 10 / 789,616, filed Feb. 27, 2004, and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,277,529, the benefit of the filing dates of which are hereby claimed and the specifications of which are hereby incorporated herein in their entireties by this reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]A. Field of Invention[0003]This invention relates to a system and method for enhanced message notification. More particularly, the invention relates to a system and method for providing message notification in an environment having multiple message notification technologies.[0004]B. Description of Related Art[0005]Voice mail is an extremely useful business and personal tool that allows callers to leave voice messages when the called party is not available to take an incoming call directly. As such, voice m...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012]The system and method of the present invention solves these needs, and others, by providing enhanced message notification in an environment having multiple message notification technologies.

[0013]Among the advantages, the invention provides richer message notification to the subscriber with an improved message system user interface. Additionally, the invention offers improved visibility and navigation of messages, and allows a single, service provider branded message notification client across all communication terminal brands and messaging capabilities.

[0020]Advantageously, the system can be integrated with an advanced system for providing voice mail service in an environment having multiple voice mail technology platforms, such as traditional network based voice mail systems and newer multimedia systems capable of delivering voice mail messages directly to the communication terminal. Such a system could utilize an automatic message attendant device which obtains voice mail technology platform indicator information from subscriber information databases to select a voice mail technology platform. The automatic message attendant device may also provide recorded messages directly to the enhanced notification function element. Therefore, according to this further aspect of the invention, the enhanced notification function element enhances the notification with at least a portion of a recorded voice mail message.

Problems solved by technology

Navigating through multiple new and saved messages can be tedious, as the messages must generally be reviewed in the order that they were received, potentially causing the subscriber to listen to multiple messages before reaching the desired message.

Additionally, other types of messages, such as e-mail, fax and other multimedia messages, have similar issues with identifying the party that left the message, determining the importance of the message, and navigating through multiple messages.

For instance, some terminals may not be capable of receiving MMS or SMS format messages.

Thus, it has been difficult for communication carriers to provide a single-carrier branded message notification client across all communication terminal vendors.

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